THE STORY OF OUR COUNTRY 




HCTUHESAND TEXT BY E.BOYD SMITH 




Copyiight i\" . 

COKfRIGliT DEPOSrC 



THE STORY OF OUR COUNTRY 

TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS 

BY 

E. BOYD SMITH 

AUTHOR OF "AFTER THEY CAME OUT OF THE AKK," "CHICKEN WORLD," ETC. 



NEW YORK G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS London 






"^ ^ '" V ■ A- t 



COPYRIGHT, 1920. BY G. P. PUTNAM S SONS 



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The coming of the Norsemen — looo. 
©CI,A604272 



THE COMING OF THE NORSEMEN. A.D. 1000 




HIS is the story of our country, A story romantic and of high daring. 
The changing of the wilderness into a great and mighty nation. 

Its beginning was in the days of long ago. Out of the North 
— the frozen seas — the home of legend and mythology — came the 
Vikings. Restless adventurers, fearing nothing, they hung their war shields to the 
side of their boats, and sailed forth into strange seas. 

From Iceland thus came Leif Ericsson and his crew, the first white men to 
reach our country. The record they have left us is vague as it came down from 
the mouths of "skalds" — the bards — who sang history, instead of writing it down 
as we do today. 

The Vikings, according to these songs, or "sagas," came down our shores. 




THE COMING OF THE NORSEMEN 






and landed at different places, perhaps as far south as what is now Rhode Island. 
They called the country Vinland. But they failed to make settlements as the 
natives, the red men, were hostile. So they went back again, and left us only the 
legend of their travels. 

This same race of Vikings had already settled in a part of France, from where, 
in time, they invaded and conquered England. And long later their descendants 
came back to our land — as Englishmen. Thus, the first to come, at last they 
came to stay. 

The red men they first met were a savage people, with a copper-colored skin, 
black eyes, and long straight black hair. In summer they wore almost no clothing. 
In winter they covered themselves with the skins of wild animals they killed. 
They were fierce fighters, and lived mainly by hunting and fishing. They had 
settlements of bark houses, with holes in the top for the smoke of their fires 
to go through. They also planted and raised corn, pumpkins, and beans. Their 
tools and weapons were made of chipped or polished stone. The women did all the 
work. The men htmted, or fought with rival tribes. Here they were born, and 
of course this was their country. We will see later how, though they fought for 
it, they lost it, in the struggle with the strange white people who came from so 
far away, across the sea. Their history mixes with ours even from the coming 
of the Norsemen up to our own , If times. 




AMERICAN NATIVES. THE REDSKINS 




COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA, 1492 

HE next important figure in our story is an Italian sailor, Christopher 
Columbus. 

In his time people did not have a very clear idea of the world and 
thought it flat. Though some scholars said it was round. 
Columbus had made many voyages and heard many stories of strange unknown 
lands and came to believe that the world was round. He claimed that by sailing 
west into the great sea he could, by a new route, reach India, a far eastern country 
which Europe traded with. And just then the Turks had shut off the way by the 
Mediterranean Sea. 

He needed ships and money of course, and tried to get help from different govern- 
ments. When almost discouraged, after many disappointments, Ferdinand and 
Queen Isabella of Spain fitted him out with three ships, and the men and supplies 
he needed. He, the first, had the courage to risk his life for his theory, by sailing 
straight out into the unknown sea. It was a brave thing to do. 

Week after week he sailed, and no sight of land. His men became frightened 
and threatened to mutiny and turn back. But he managed to encourage them to 
keep on just a little longer. And at last! Land appeared! 

This was our country. And Spain had the glory of discovering it. 

Colvimbus landed on an island of the West^ Indies, and set up the flag of Spain. 




COLUMBUS SAILING INTO THE UNKNOWN 



COLUMBUS DISCOVERS AMERICA, 1492 



He thought he had reached India, and so called the natives Indians. They were 
immensely surprised to see these strange white men — the "pale faces," as they 
named them. 

Columbus returned to Spain to tell of his discovery, and was received with great 
honour. Again he crossed to America, planting colonies, making several voyages, 
searching for gold — ^which he never found. Some of the leaders, out of jealousy, 
became enemies, and laid false charges against him. They seized him and sent him 
back in chains. But the charges were disproved, and he was set free in Spain. 

Colvunbus died without knowing that, though he had failed to find a short cut 
to India, he had discovered a new world — the American continent. 

And now the Spaniards, filled with the spirit of adventure came pouring to 
America. Bold and daring they explored the country far and near, and made many 
settlements. 

Ponce de Leon, the new governor of Porto Rico, made a voyage to the mainland, 
and called the country Florida. Here, he had heard, was an enchanted spring which 
would make old men young. In those days people believed the most wonderfvil 
stories of this new strange land. He himted far and long for this spring, but 
alas never found it. Instead, ^^^^^ he was attacked by the Indians and lost 
his life, which he had been ^H^^ ^m^ so anxious to prolong. But he left us the 



name of Florida, now one 




of our States. 



II'ICE DE LEON IN SEARCH OF THE MAGIC SPKING 






DE SOTO AT THE MISSISSIPPI. 1541 




HE discovery of this new world created a great excitement in the old 
world of Europe. And a host of explorers came to our shores. 
Among them was one Americus Vespucius, who wrote accounts of 
the new coimtry. From this it became known as America, named 
after him, instead of Columbia, which now seems a pity. 
Other countries were anxious to have their part, and enterprising explorers set 
forth. The Portuguese made voyages to South America, and planted colonies there. 
The English sent out John Cabot, who also believed the world to be round, to find 
another passage to the Indies; he reached the northern coasts, Newfoundland 
and New England. And returned to tell of cod fish in plenty. And soon, as early as 
1504, the fishermen from France were to be foimd fishing from New England to 
Newfoundland. That fishing thus begim so long ago still continues today. 

Magellan, exploring for Spain, in the boldest and most astonishing voyage ever 
made, sailed around America by way of Cape Horn, through the "Magellan Straits, " 
and reached the Indies. And though he was killed in the Philippines, his ship kept 
on, the first to sail around the world. Thus proving that the world was round, as 
the scholars had claimed. 

Meanwhile a steady stream of hardy Spanish J adventurers pushed their ex- 
plorations, and claimed the country as their"*" A |M| own. Many of theseexpedi- 
tions, after suffering great hardships, perished J^ \ ^^|^miserably . But others fol- 
lowed after, all in a wild search for gold. 




COD FISHINr. 



DE SOTO AT THE MISSISSIPPI, 1541 



De Soto, a gallant knight, with a valiant army of some six hundred men, with 
many horses, set forth from Havana. He landed in Florida, at Tampa. Here he 
rescued a Spaniard who had been for years among the Indians. This man, having 
learned their language, was later very useful as interpreter with the Indian tribes 
they met on their way. 

De Soto struck boldly into the wilderness, like others, in search of gold. As the 
Spaniards were cruel to the Indians these fviriously resisted his march, which be- 
came a long series of battles between the men in steel armour and the naked savages. 
Steadily his men perished in this fighting, but nothing daimted he pushed on. 

The Indians in a night attack set fire to his camp, in the dead of winter, destroying 
much of his baggage and arms, which added greatly to the suffering of the company. 
But De Soto was too proud to tvun back, as his men wished, and steadily marched 
ahead, to greater and greater hardships, always hoping for gold just ahead. 

At last he came to a mighty, rushing river, which the Indians called the Mis- 
sissippi — the Father of Waters. This by right of discovery he claimed for Spain, 
in the year 1541. 

Crossing the river, for another year he vainly wandered. Then fell ill, and died. 
His men, to hide his death from the Indians, wrapped him in his mantle, and at 
night dropped his body in the middle of the great river he had discovered. 

The survivors of what was once his bold army, after great suffering, with rudely 
built vessels floated down the river to the Gvdf . And at last, ragged and wretched, 
reached a Spanish settlement, after having lost half the army with which they had 
set out so valiantly four years before. 




URIAL OF DE SOTO 



POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 1607 




HOUGH Spain claimed all this newly discovered world as her own, and 
fast spread her colonies through the West Indies, and along the Gvilf 
shore, and far south, other nations also strove to gain a footing. 
France, by right of Verazzani's voyage of 1524 undertook to 
establish a settlement in northern Florida. This aroused the jealousy of the Span- 
iards, who fell upon the settlers and massacred them. 

In France there arose a cry of indignation. A gallant gentleman, Dominique 
de Gourgues, to. avenge his countrymen, mustered a company of men, sailed for 
Florida, and boldly attacked the Spaniards who had done this deed. He captured 
the fort and hanged the murderers, placing above them, for all to see, the inscrip- 
tion " Not as to Spaniards but as to Traitors, Robbers, and Murderers." 

Next came the English, who made a settlement at Roanoke Island, 1585, imder 
the leadership of Sir Walter Raleigh, who named the coimtry thereabout Virginia. 
This colony soon perished, and left no trace. At last a permanent footing was 
gained at Jamestown in 1607. Here under the leadership of the doughty Captain 
John Smith the colony gradually took root. They raised tobacco — an Indian weed 

1 

— and introduced the habit of smoking ^^^ ^ _ [into Europe. 




DOMINIQUE DE GOURGUES ATTACKING THE SPANIARDS 



8 



POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH, 1607 



Captain John Smith was energetic and made everybody work, though many, 
like the Spaniards, came hoping to find gold without work. 

The Indians caused trouble. Once they captured Captain John and were about 
to beat out his brains with their clubs, when Pocahontas, the young daughter of 
Chief Powhattan, seized his head in her arms, and begged for his life. Powhattan 
spared Captain John, who lived with the Indians for a while, and arranged a treaty 
of peace with them, which was of great help to the colony. Pocahontas often came to 
Jamestown after this and in time married one of the settlers, John Rolfe. And to this 
day there are people who claim to have descended from this generous Indian princess. 

Here, to Jamestown, in 1620, was brought a shipload of African negroes, who 
were sold to the planters as slaves. This was the beginning of an institution which 
later caused our country endless trouble. 

While this was happening another great people, the French, was establishing a 
foothold in America. 

At St. Croix, in what is now Maine, in 1605 a settlement had been made. Then 
came a very gallant leader Champlain, who founded Quebec, in Canada, in 1609. 
Cartier in 1534-42 had explored this northern district. 

The French, unlike the English, made friends with the Indians, and so avoided 
much fighting. Champlain in his exploration discovered the lake in northern New 
York which still bears his H n ii 1 name — Lake Champlain. 




UPLAIN DISCOVERS LAKE CUAMfLAIN 



SAMOSET AND THE PILGRIMS. 1621 




N 1620 came another band of English settlers, this time to what is now 
New England. These were people who had left England some ten 
years before and gone to Holland, to find religious freedom. From 
Holland in time they sailed for America, in two ships, but only one 
completed the voyage — the Mayflower. 

Captain John Smith had explored the coast of New England and given names to 
its waters, a part he called Pl3miouth Bay. Here the Pilgrims, as they called them- 
selves, landed. Before landing, on board ship they drew up a form of government 
for themselves. This is the earliest written constitution known. 

They built rude houses, and began to plant, and make homes, suffering great 
hardships, which caused the death of more than half their number. But still they 
persisted. 

To them, one spring day, appeared a yoimg Indian, Samoset, saying "Welcome 
Englishmen." Through his help they made friends with Massasoit and his tribe of 
red men. The Indians helped to feed the white strangers. They also showed them 
how to plant com, using fish as maniu-e, and hoeing and hilling. This was all new 
to the colonists as they had never known otir ^'^''^v, Indian com before. 

All the Indian tribes were not friendly./ -^jCanonicus, the chief of the 

w, 

-~4 




LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS 



lO 



SAMOSET AND THE PILGRIMS, 1621 



Narragansetts, sent a messenger with a btindle of arrows tied up with a snake skin. 
This was a declaration of defiance. Governor Bradford stuffed the skin full of powder 
and bullets, and sent it back, and Canonicus, who knew the power of the white 
man's guns, decided that as he could not frighten the Pilgrims it was safer to leave 
them alone. 

Now, in 1630, another body of English, called Puritans, encouraged by the 
success of the Plymouth colony, came and laid the beginnings of Boston. And soon 
more colonists came pouring into New England, and spread in every direction. 
They came to be free and independent, and planted that love of liberty which has 
made our country what it is. 

In 1635-36 great numbers, with their wagons and household goods, left the Ply- 
mouth and Boston colonies, and marched across the country into what is now 
Connecticut. Here they settled along the rivers and shores, as at Hartford and 
New Haven, founding new colonies, with new governments. 

Though the Indians had at first been kind to the settlers, these as they grew 
stronger seemed to forget this, and were harsh and often unjust in their dealings 
with the red men, who in their turn became angry. They saw their him ting groimds 
being fast taken up by these strangers, and found themselves no longer free as before 
and they began to fight, and wished to drive the white men from the land they 



naturally considered their JiJ| 




own. 



THE EMIGRATION 10 CONNECTICUT 



ROGER WILLIAMS BRINGING THE CHARTER. 1644 




HE Pequots, a fierce tribe, and the ever advancing settlers soon came 
to blows. There was murder and cruelty on both sides, and a bitter 
war began. The English of course had the great advantage of guns 
over bows and arrows. In the spring of 1637 they banded together 
and formed a small army which suddenly attacked the Pequot stockade or fort. 
They hurled firebrands among the bark wigwams, which were soon ablaze, and shot 
down the Indians as they tried to escape, destroying the whole tribe. This ruthless 
fight is known as the Pequot Massacre. 

So terrible was this punishment that for a long time the Indians feared to oppose 
the white men. 

In the Massachusetts colony, though the Ptrritans had come to have freedom for 
their own religious views, they were not always willing to grant this freedom to 
others. Here Roger Williams took his stand for absolute religious freedom, claiming 
that each should decide for himself. But he was / f ^ , . driven out of 




DESTRUCTION OF THE PEQUOTS 



12 



ROGER WILLIAMS BRINGING THE CHARTER, 1644 



the colony as a radical and fled in the dead of winter to the Indians, who took him 
in. He made friends with them, and even kept the Narragansetts from joining the 
Pequots in their war with the English. He gathered about him a band of followers, 
and crossed over into what is now Rhode Island. Here he founded Providence. 

In time he was sent to England, to get a charter for his new colony. This he 
succeeded in obtaining, and gaining permission to land at Boston, he crossed Massa- 
chusetts, to Rhode Island. Here, in 1644, as he reached the river boundary, the 
whole colony came out in canoes to welcome him home, and he crossed in triumph 
through the fleet, to the new state he had created. He asserted the doctrine of 
intellectual liberty, and founded a State upon that principle, the first of modem 
legislators to embody the principle of universal toleration in the constitution of a 
State. This is Rhode Island's glory. 

Liberty and independence was the great aim of the colonists who left their old 
homes to come to this new land, and Roger Williams is one of the most shining lights 
of this doctrine. He was just in his dealings with the Indians, and so made friends 
of them instead of enemies. 

Another good friend of the Indians was John Eliot, who tried to teach them his 
religion. Though as a rule, like most people, they preferred their own. And though 
he had some success, most of the Indians were satisfied with their wild life, and 
grew resentful of the invading \,,_ \ English. 




THE DUTCH IN MANHATTAN. 1664 




HILE the English were thus firmly settling in New England, and the 
French in Canada, another people from Europe appeared on the 
scene. The Dutch, in 1609, had sent out an explorer, Henry Hudson 
who discovered the Hudson River. Here soon came Dutch adven- 
turers, who traded with the Indians for furs. By 1614 they had 
made a settlement on Manhattan Island — now New York City — and before long 
they also made others up the river, as at Albany. 

They also pushed east to Hartford. Here, however, they were finally crowded 
out by the inrushing English. 

Manhattan, then called New Amsterdam, grew to be a city, keeping pace with 
Boston. Here all creeds were tolerated, and people came from all parts of Europe, 
many English as well as others. 

In those days the governments of Europe often acted much as pirates, as thus, 
just when this Dutch town was thriving prosperously, the English took a notion 
they would like to have it. So, without any warning, in 1644, they sent over a fleet 
of warships with an army, and seized the town, in spite of the indignation of the 
sturdy Dutch Governor, Peter Stuyvesant. He was an old soldier who had lost a 
leg in war. He wanted to fight for his town but resistance was useless, as 
he had too few troops, so was forced to surrender. ^v| Later, in the course of 

13 




HENRY HUDSON SAILING UP THE HUDSON — 1609 



H 



THE DUTCH IN MANHATTAN, 1664 



a war with England, the Dutch regained the town, but finally, at the close of the 
war, recognizing that the English were too strong in America, they allowed it to 
go back to England. And so ended the Dutch colony in America, though the 
settlers remained, and were absorbed by the steadily growing English. Many of 
their names are still known in New York. 

The Spaniards, the French, and the English were busily reaching out to grasp 
as much of the great country as possible. There seemed to be room enough for all, 
yet we will see that in time they clashed, and struggled, till at last the whole of our 
country fell vinder the sway of English rule. 

These last slowly but surely made settlements along the shore of the Atlantic, 
from Maine to Georgia. 

William Penn, a member of the Society of Friends — often called Quakers — who 
believed in the principle of friendship and honest dealing, came and foimded Penn- 
sylvania in 1 68 1. He bought the land from the Indians, and so avoided savage 
wars. He named the first city Philadelphia — the "City of Brotherly Love." 

As the English pushed farther and farther south they were opposed by the 
Spaniards, who, as first claimants, resisted their advances and conflicts ensued. 
These "conflicts even developed into wars, where first one side, and then the other, 
would attack. The Spaniards were settled in Florida where they had built, in 1585, 
Saint Augustine, the oldest town in our covintry. This state they held, though losing 
it for a time, to win it back again, till as late as 1819, when at last it became a 
part of the United States. 




WILLIAM PENN TREATING WITH THE INDIANS 



■fHU-JUJ.W."*^ 



KING PHILIP'S WAR, 1675 




jE have seen that Samoset, and Massasoit, were friendly to the strangers 
in New England. But the colonists were not always considerate 
in their dealings with the red men, and frequent causes of friction 
arose. The Indians complained that the white man allowed his 
hogs to run free and destroy their com fields. To protect them- 
selves they sometimes killed these hogs. Of course the result was trouble. 

As the English kept coming and ever coming they crowded the Indians back, 
took their old hunting grounds for farm land, and monopolized their fisheries! 
From the west hostile tribes were threatening, if they moved that way. Till, little 
by little, they found themselves deprived of their broad acres, and penned in by 
enemies on every side. 

Now they became desperate, and, under their chief Philip, the son of Massasoit, 
they banded together and revolted, 1675. They rose in a frenzy, to drive the white 
man from their land. 

Always cruel in war they swooped down on villages at night, set fire to the 
houses, and murdered the inhabitants, as at Deerfield, and other small towns. 

From Connecticut as far as the eastern border of Maine they rose, and 
waged ruthless war. A war which, with breaks, lasted for over twenty years— 
until the Indians were practically wiped out., 



15 







NIGHT ATTACK BY INDIANS 



i6 



KING PHILIP'S WAR, 1675 



So desperate was this war that the Hfe of the colonies was seriously endangered. 

Many towns were destroyed, the settlements of Maine were practically laid 
waste. The costs of the war equalled in value half a million dollars — an enormous 
sum for the few of that day. More than six hundred men, chiefly young men, the 
hope of the colonists, perished in the field, and many women and children were 
killed as well. 

As many as six hundred houses were biimed. Of the able bodied men in the 
colonies, one in every twenty fell. There was scarcely a family from which death 
had not laid toll. The colonists were forced to band together, and raise armies. 
With an army of about a thousand men, in the dead of winter, after an all night's 
march through the snow, they surprised and attacked the fort of the Narragansetts, 
where some three thousand Indians were assembled. 

The battle was desperate, both sides fought furiously. The colonists rushed in, 
but the Indians rallied and drove them out. By now the Indians had many guns and 
knew how to use them. At last the white men succeeded in setting fire to the place. 
The fort was destroyed, and the Indians overcome. More than a third perished, the 
rest were scattered, without food, to starve through the winter. The victory was 
dearly won as it cost the colonists some two hundred men. This was one of the most 
important battles of oiir history. It virtually ended the war. Soon after King Philip 
was killed, and his son and wife captured and sold into slavery. A cruel fate for 
the grandson of Massasoit > . — the friend of the white man. And the 

day of the red man was J^^j \[^/ nearing its end in New England. 




IN THE TRACK OF THE WAR 



LA SALLE DESCENDING THE MISSISSIPPI. 1682 




HILE the English in New England, and along the coast, generally 
came to make new homes, where they built towns and developed in- 
dustries, the French, above, in Canada, devoted themselves mainly 
to the fur trade, bartering with the Indians. This led them to 
stretch farther and farther west. They became hunters, trappers, 
coureurs de bois, and mixed with the Indians. This life made them advent\irous, 
and good explorers, opening up the new world, but it interfered with their taking 
hold of the land as solidly as did the English. 

These were fast forming a compact body of settlements along the Atlantic shore, 
while the French stretched out in a thin line over a vast territory. They have left 
us some splendid names of bold men, such as Champlain, Frontenac, and La Salle. 
La Salle dreamed the old dream of finding a passage to the South Seas, that is a 
short cut to India and China. He began to push his explorations westward. He dis- 
covered the Ohio River. Hearing of a great river farther west he determined to 
reach and explore it. He built a small ship, the Griffin, on the Niagara River, and 
sailed through Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan. Landing he sent his ship back for 
supplies. He waited and waited, but the Griffin was never heard from again. 

Part of the way in canoes, and part on foot, through a thousand miles of snow- 
covered wilderness, he made his way back to Montreal. Beset by every form of peril 
and obstacle, pelted by snow, sleet, and rain, in danger of Indian attack, his 

men giving out one by one, till at last he^^t^r alone was fit to travel. 

After sixty days of almost incessant toil, he at>S7a'^ ^last reached his destina- 

17 




COUREURS DE BOIS — TRADING WITH THE INDIANS 



i8 



LA SALLE DESCENDING THE MISSISSIPPI, 1682 



tion, to gather supplies and start back again. Such was the character of this 
indomitable man. 

He soon set out to try again. He had left his men building a ship, but they 
deserted while he was away. After a long search he found Tonty, his faithful lieu- 
tenant, who had fled from the Indians. Now all his plans were upset, and he had 
to begin his work all over again. Indian wars also bothered him. He had to arrange 
alliances so that his party could get through. Again he had to go back to Montreal 
for help and supplies. The fates seemed opposed to him, but his courage and de- 
termination could not be daunted. 

By great effort he gathered together a company, with the supplies necessary. 
They set out in canoes through the Great Lakes. Among his canoemen, strange to 
say, were Indians who had fought with King Philip ; driven out of New England, 
they were now to help this great explorer. 

They reached the headwaters of the Mississippi ; and now at last La Salle began 
his exploration. He floated down this great river, the first white man, till he reached 
the Gulf of Mexico ; but, as he saw, no short cut to India. 

He now returned to France, to tell of his discovery, and proposed to the king to 
found a great colony on the Gulf and control all the vast west. 

He was given ships, and men to start the colony, — Louisiana — and sailed. 
Alas, fate seemed always bent on defeating him. He sailed too far, passed the 
mouth of the river, and landed far west, where, while searching for the river, he 
was murdered by some of his men. 

De Soto, who first discovered the great river, died miserably and was buried in 
its waters. La Salle, its explorer, met with an equally miserable end by the scene of 
his triumph. Both men / were fated to lose their lives by the mighty river 

they had found for us. ^'^tS 




BE FOUNDING OF NEW ORLEANS BY THE FRENCH — I7I4 



THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. 1773 




HE colonies of New England, in spite of Indian wars, steadily grew, and 

became prosperous and settled. They early established public schools 

for the general education of the people. The Pilgrims, who had lived 

in Holland, probably got this idea from the Dutch, who then were the 

most liberal and advanced people. 

They also got into the habit of forming their own government, and appointing 

all their own officers at their town meetings, where everyone had a right to vote. 

Thus they grew to be independent, and democratic. 

Unfortunately their peaceful development was often interrupted by war. Eng- 
land and France in rivalry were always squabbling, and whenever they went to war 
their colonists were drawn into the fight, and each side incited the Indians to 
attack the other, finally joining in themselves. Thus from 1 690 to 1 763 the English 
and French colonists were more or less steadily at war. Till at last England sent a 
great fleet and army which overwhelmed the French. And Canada fell, fighting 
valiantly, and ever after remained an English province. 

In these wars Washington first appears. He led a Virginia regiment against 
French forts on the Ohio River. At this time also Franklin became known, bom 
in Boston in 1706, as a boy he worked as a printer on one of our earliest newspapers, 
which he delivered through the streets to the customers. During the last war he, 
the first, proposed a Union of the colonies. 

And now the colonists began to feel their own strength. England had always 
treated them as if they existed only to make her rich, which they resented, and 

19 




PATRICK HENRY, "GIVE ME LIBERTY OR 
GIVE ME death" 



20 



THE BOSTON TEA PARTY, 1773 



iSu^ 



JOIN, o, DIE 



struggled against, with more or less success. Now she claimed the right to tax 
them. The colonies claimed that she had no such right, and bad feeling was aroused. 
One hundred and fifty years of self-government had weakened their feeling of alle- 
giance to the mother country. Bom on the soil, as were their fathers and grand- 
fathers before them, they were now Americans, and insisted on their natural right 
to govern themselves. 

Bold leaders arose, such as Samuel Adams in Boston, and Patrick Henry in 
Virginia, denoimcing the course of the English king who was stubborn and insisted 
on new taxes. He also sent troops to Boston, which made matters worse. Things 
reached a crisis when he sent ships laden with tea, which he insisted they should buy. 
The citizens revolted, and, on the night of December 17, 1773, disguised as In- 
dians, they went aboard the ships and spilled the tea into the harbour. Thus began 
the Revolution, ovu" great romantic epic, the war for Independence, the beginning 
of a great change in the history of the world. 

The English government immediately punished Boston by closing its port to all 
trade, seizing its government and sending over more troops. 

The other colonies arose to the support of the city. South Carolina shipped 
rice to feed its citizens. Virginia sent flour. 

The first Continental Congress, at the invitation of Massachusetts, was held at 
Philadelphia, by delegates from all the colonies. They drew up an ad- 
dress to the king, and refused to trade with England until justice should 
be done them. They also passed a resolution that "All America ought 
to support them — " the Boston people — "if force is attempted." 

Franklin, who took part, was sent to England, in hopes of arranging 
a settlement. 




BENJAMIN FBANKLIN 



LEXINGTON. April 19. 1775 




N Massachusetts it seemed as if war must come. The different towns 
enrolled their militia, and prepared for the conflict. Powder and 
guns were gathered, and in Concord a depot was established. 

The British general decided to seize these supplies by the surprise 
of a night march. He set his troops in motion, but the patriotic 
citizens, on the watch, signalled by lanterns from the North Church tower, and 
gave the warning to Paul Revere who, on the Charlestown shore, was on the look- 
out. He mounted his horse and rode through the night, giving the alarm. Once 
he was captured by the enemy, but released, he went on again, knocking at doors, 
shouting that the soldiers were coming. Alarm gtms were fired, and the drums beat, 
calling out the militia — to fight for liberty. 

As the last stars of night were disappearing, and the morning light beginning to 
cast shadows across the village green of Lexington, the British arrived, to discover 
the militiamen, some sixty or seventy, drawn up in two lines. The English leader, 
Pitcaim, riding in front, cried out "Disperse, ye villains, ye rebels." The country- 
men stood firm, witnesses against aggression. Pitcaim discharging his pistol, cried 
"Fire." A deadly volley from the soldiers followed. And seven of the men of 
Lexington fell dead, martjTS whose blood called up armies. 

The English pushed on to Concord, where j,|j||f||||f!f5'*!% ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^one 
before. Here they were resisted and forced: 




PAUL REVEKE, SPREADING THE ALARM 



22 



LEXINGTON, APRIL 19, i775 



And now along the way, from behind the trees and stone walls, in Indian fashion, 
the countrymen fought them, driving them with heavy loss, defeated, back to 
Boston. The war of the Revolution had begun. 

From every quarter the militia gathered rapidly. Putnam, at Pomfret, Conn., 
jumped on his horse, rode one htmdred miles in eighteen hours, to Cambridge, 
opposite Boston, his militia companies following as fast as they could ; just in time 
to meet John Stark of New Hampshire, who led his in. By noon of the day after 
the fight New Haven turned out its volunteers, who, led by Arnold, set out for 
Cambridge, picking up recruits along the way. 

And so from every hill and valley in New England on they came, till shortly the 
English general foimd himself besieged in Boston by an American army of some 
sixteen thousand men. 

This surprising result came about from the way the people had lived. They 
were all accustomed to the use of firearms, for hunting, or fighting the Indians or 
French. Every man had his musket and powder flask. They grew up practically 
soldiers, and thus formed a firm material for an effective militia. But for this tmi- 
versal use of firearms it is doubtful if the colonies could have won their independence. 
Everywhere now they rose in arms to support Massachusetts, and fight for what 
they claimed was their liberty. 

Joseph Warren of Boston expressed their sentiment when he said: "It is the 
united voice of America to preserve their freedom, or lose their lives in defence of it. 
America must and will be free." 




.1. • '' '"' 

RETREAT OF TUE BRITISH 



WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE, December 25. 1776 




NCE the war was started, the Americans struck with vigour. In May, 
Ethan Allen and Beth Warner led the men from the Green Moun- 
tains of Vermont, and the Connecticut Valley, against the forts of 
Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which they took. This was to pre- 
vent the British coming down from Canada. From here they brought 
much needed cannon for the siege of Boston. 
At the same time the second Continental Congress met at Philadelphia and 
appointed Washington to take charge of the army of patriots, now called the Con- 
tinental army. He started soon for Cambridge, for Boston was the seat of the 
fighting. 

Meanwhile the Americans fortified themselves by breastworks on Bunker Hill, 
Charlestown, just opposite Boston. Here the British, now ten thousand strong, 
attacked them. Twice they charged against the American lines only to be driven 
back with great loss. 

Their third attack was successful, for the Americans were now short of powder 
and had to give up the hill. But this battle, though a defeat, gave them renewed 
courage, for they here learned that they could successfully face regular soldiers. 

Washington soon after arrived and took command. He succeeded in com- 
pelling the British to leave Boston, and then marched to New York where other 
British armies had arrived. On July 4th of this year, 1776, Congress issued our 
Declaration of Independence, thus finally breaking away from England forever. 
This is the day we celebrate. 

Through this year Washington boldly fought the English, but they were too 
strong, and he was compelled to fall back. During the winter, just after he had 
retreated across the Delaware River, he saw a j' • chance to surprise the enemy. 




BATTLE OF BUNKER HILI 



24 WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE, DECEMBER 25, 1776 

In the dead of a bitter cold night — Christmas night — with great difificvilty he 
crossed the river, through snow and floating ice, and in the morning pounced upon 
Trenton, New Jersey, then held by a large body of Hessian troops — these were 
German soldiers hired by the English. His attack was so successful that he cap- 
tured them all, one thousand men. Then he vigorously kept up the attack, on 
Princeton, winning another victory. These successes greatly encouraged the 
Americans. 

Now the fighting, through 1777, became more severe. The English made great 
efforts to conquer. And the Americans a determined resistance. Washington 
never missed a chance for attacking, but still the enemy was too strong. Though 
one English army, coming down from Canada, under Burgoyne, was surroimded 
and captured. 

Through all the long, hard fighting, Washington laboured under great difficulties. 
Congress could not always give him the money to pay his troops. And these troops 
were always coming and going, each colony, jealous of its rights, enlisted its men in 
its own way. So that thus he really had thirteen different armies to make into one. 
Each carried its own banner, even though the Stars and Stripes, our flag, had been 
designed. 

The winter of 1777, passed at Valley Forge, was one of great hardship and siaffer- 
ing, — the men were hungry, cold, and often barefoot, and only the great character 
of Washington kept them together. 

Franklin had gone to France for help, and now, just when most needed, France 
not only sent money and arms, but joined the Americans, and sent soldiers and 
ships, 1778. Before this a gallantry volunteer, Lafayette, had come, inspired by our 
brave fight for liberty. 




INTER AT VALLEY FORGE 



YORKTOWN VICTORY, 1781 




HE war dragged on and spread to wider and wider boundaries. The 

Tories, those colonists who did not wish to be Americans, incited the 

Indians to take the war-path, and there were massacres of innocent 

people along the frontiers. Rogers Clark boldly and successfully 

waged war on this enemy in the west. 

And far away on the sea, Paul Jones, with the help of the French, fatted out 

his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, and attacked and captured the English warship, 

Serapis, his own ship sinking after the battle. 

There were very gloomy moments in this long war, when many became dis- 
couraged, but Washington with stout heart still held his army together and fought 
on, overcoming every obstacle. Congress could not raise money, troops mutinied, 
and treachery, and even treason, raised its head. The British, failing to beat Wash- 
ington, overran the Southern States. Then, when things were at their blackest 
there came a change. General Greene, whom Washington had sent South, success- 
fully harassed and fought the enemy. Marion and Sumter with their bands of 
frontiersmen won important victories. And the EngHsh were forced to retreat. 

Washington, keenly watching for the right \^| occasion, now, by 

a rapid and skilful march, led his troops, |JJ||||m||J|^^ ^^^ ^^^ French 
army of Rochambeau, from the north to ||iif^?SP||H 

25 




PAUL JONES FIGHTING THE "SERAPIS 



26 



YORKTOWN VICTORY, 1781 




British army of New York could interfere. Here, with the help of the French fleet, 
under De Grasse, he penned the army of Comwallis into Yorktown. He at once 
began the siege of the town, battering down its defences with his cannon. At last, 
when all was ready, the Americans and French attacked together. The success was 
complete. Comwallis surrendered his army of over seven thousand men, who on the 
following day marched out between the American and French armies drawn up, and 
laid down their arms, October 19, 1781. 

Victory had come to great Washington at last, after six years of fighting ; for 
the war was won. Though the treaty of peace with England was not signed till 
April 19, 1783. Precisely eight years from the day on which was shed that first 
blood at Lexington, a new nation, recognized by all, came into existence. 

Now another great difficulty presented itself. How to hold these colonies to- 
gether and form one country. A Federal Convention was held at Philadelphia, 
which drew up our Constitution, 1787, setting forth our form of government. The 
different colonies finally accepted it, and today it is still the ruling law of our land. 

Washington was unanimously elected as our first President — the President of 
the United States. 

We can never be grateful enough for having had the good fortune to have had 
this really great and good man to lead us in war, and then in peace. He truly and 
ii|,|ji|( justly has been called the Father of his country. As one of his generals, 
[ j Henry Lee, said of him, he was, "First in war. First in peace, and First in 
ii Hi. the hearts of his fellow citizens." 



WASHINGTON AS PRESIDENT 



LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION. 1805 




RANGE, by right of discovery, had claimed a vast territory back of 
the EngHsh colonies, reaching west to the Mississippi, and beyond to 
the Pacific. England now, by conquest, in turn claimed this. The 
Americans in their great war sought to protect themselves by taking 
over much of this land. Rogers Clark, in his victories over the Tories 
and Indians, gained control of a great territory west of the Alleghanies and north 
of the Ohio. 

More to the south the famous hunter, Daniel Boone, led a band of settlers into 
Kentucky, and after fierce battles with the Indians, established a settlement. 
Others followed him fast. 

When France lost her colonies to England, she gave Louisiana — La Salle's work — 
to Spain, who held it for thirty years, claiming the right to control the trade of the 
Mississippi River, seriously annoying our rapidly developing western settlements, 
which wished to float their goods down to the Gulf. But in 1800 Napoleon again 
took over Louisiana for the French, which he finally sold to the Americans in 1803. 
Thomas Jefferson, then our President, saw the value of the land to us and made the 
purchase. And, on December 20th, the French flag descended from the staff, in 
the square of New Orleans, and the American flag went up, — to stay. 

This cession of Louisiana gave us an immense territory, of unknown extent, 
beyond the Mississippi, what is now our great West. President Jefferson at once 
began to have this territory explored. He sent out an expedition headed by Cap- 
tains Lewis and Clark, who made one of the greatest exploring trips ever known, 
and of far reaching consequences. 

They set out in the spring of 1805, and 
rowed up the Missouri River. 

27 



sailed 




DANIEL BOCWI 



28 



LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, 1805 



As the stream became narrower they advanced in canoes, using great skill in 
their dealings with the Indians, to avoid fighting. On the way they took with them 
an Indian woman, Sacajawea, who had been captured as a child, from her home 
in the Rocky Mountains. She proved of great help as an interpreter. At a Sho- 
shone village, on their way, where Lewis and Clark were holding council with the 
chief, in his tent, she was called in to talk for them. She recognized in the person 
of the chief — ^Cameawait — her brother. She ran and embraced him, throwing over 
him her blanket, and weeping profusely. The chief was himself much moved, to 
thus again meet his long lost sister. The Shoshones now gave to the party of ex- 
plorers food and help. Leaving their canoes, with Indian guides, they struggled on 
foot over the Rocky Mountains, through snow and cold, suffering great hardships. 
Their food gave out and they were forced to eat their horses. Still they pushed on, 
and at last reached the Pacific. Here they passed a hard winter, short of food and 
clothing. Then they started back, reaching St. Louis in September, 1806. Their 
great journey of four thousand miles, which had taken twenty-eight months, was 
successfully ended. They had paved the way for the opening of the great West. 

Meanwhile our country had been developing fast. On the seas our merchant 
ships were carrying our goods abroad. In the waters of Europe and the Mediter- 
ranean Sea — the Barbary pirates seized our vessels, and demanded tribute of us. 
We sent our ships to fight them, under Commodore Preble, and began to train ovtr 
small navy to defend ourselves. One of our frigates, the Philadelphia, imfortunately 
struck a reef and was captured. Decatur, a gallant young lieutenant, in a small 
vessel, attacked the pirates holding the ship, beat them off, and set fire to the 
Philadelphia, which he could not save. After more fighting, where our sol- 
diers and ^^^^-^ sailors captured a town, the pirates decided to leave us alone 
for a .iilH^^^^iH while. We had shown that we could strike back. 






^*m:-; 




DECATUR BURNING THE rHILADELPHIA ' 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 1813 



^mn 



OW our country grew very rapidly, both in prosperity and in extent. 
At the close of the Revolution Congress had given large tracts of 
land to soldiers, and a great movement towards the West set in. 
Here, as before, they met the Indians who furiously resisted the in- 
vasion of their lands, and bitter, bloody wars followed. Harrison won 
a great victory over them at Tippecanoe. But these Indian wars were everywhere, 
North and South, and did not end until the Indians, much later, had been driven 
across the Mississippi. 

Our merchant fleet grew to be extensive. In 1807, Fulton first successfully 
applied steam to our river vessels on the Hudson. This gradually caused a real 
revolution in ship-building. Just then England and France began warring again, 
and both preyed on our merchant ships. To make matters worse, England arro- 
gantly claimed the right to take sailors from our ships, giving the excuse that they 
were deserters from her navy. She carried on this outrage so long that we were at 
last forced to go to war, 18 12. 

On the sea our ships were gloriously successful, defeating and capturing the 
British frigates at almost every meeting. On land, where our army was small and 
untrained, we were not so happy. 

In the struggle for supremacy on the Great Lakes, Perry built a fleet of ships at 
Erie. He floated it across the bar, into Lake Erie, with flats— called camels — after 
removing the guns. As soon as he found the Enghsh fleet he attacked it, leading 
with the Lawrence, and fought against great odds for over an hour, inflicting serious 
damage on the enemy, until, when the Lawrence^ had become useless for 
fvui;her fighting, he took his flag, hearing ^-^ ^ the last words of Captain 

29 




FULTON'S FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE HUDSON — I.H' 



30 



BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, 1813 



Lawrence,— " Don't give up the Ship," and, under fire, had himself rowed to the 
Niagara, just then slowly coming into action. 

With the Niagara, and the rest of his fleet, he gallantly led the attack again. 
And this time victory was his, and the EngHsh "struck" and surrendered. 

When the battle was won Perry wrote with a pencil, on the back of an old letter, 
resting it on his navy hat, the famous dispatch to General Harrison, "We have met 
the enemy and they are ours, two ships, two brigs, one schooner, one sloop." 

This victory decided the campaign in the northwest, giving to the Americans 
control of the Lakes, and safety on the land adjoining. The fighting moved away 
from this region, except where the Indians, under Tecumseh, fighting with the Eng- 
lish, met General Harrison at the battle of the Thames, where they were beaten, 
and Tecumseh killed. 

In Alabama the Creek Indians also rose, and massacred right and left, until 
Andrew Jackson met and defeated them at Tallapoosa. 

This same General Jackson, later one of our Presidents, won a great victory 
over the EngHsh at New Orleans. They came to attack him with a veteran army of 
twelve thousand men. Behind a line of cotton bales Jackson's rangers and riflemen 
stood fast, and as the British came on defeated them with great slaughter. In less 
than half an hour the English army was in flight thoroughly defeated. This ended 
the War of 1812. Never after did the English molest our sailors. 

Now, here again, in 1815, we hear of that gallant Lieutenant Decatur, who 
so daringly attacked the 
Algiers, as that country 
chiefs to come on board 

And now, American^ 
it would. 




Barbary pirates. He sailed into the harbour of 
<r,^^had declared war on us, and compelled their 
-,^^v^ his ships and make peace. 

commerce was free to sail safely wherever 



BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS — 1815 



■«f»>v. 



CLIPPER SHIPS AND WHALERS, 1846 




XCE again at peace our country forged ahead. An endless flood of 
settlers steadily poured westward, till by 1830, all the territory east 
of the Mississippi was pretty well occupied. Fulton's invention of 
the steamboat immediately produced important results. On all our 
great lakes and rivers steamboats now earned settlers and goods. 
For two thousand miles the great Mississippi — the river of De Soto 
and La Salle — was busy with this traffic. 

And soon the railroads — just perfected by Stephenson, in England — spread 
rapidly, up and down and across the country. 

In 1 837 Morse gave to us the telegraph. With the development of the telegraph, 
the steamboat, and the railway, America changed from an overgrown type of 
colonial life to that of a nation. Its growth in ten years, from 1830 to 1840, was 
remarkable, from thirteen million to seventeen million in population. 

In 1846 EHas Howe gave us the sewing machine, a most useful and valuable 
invention. 

We soon became a great maritime people. Our ships carried our flag every- 
where. We crossed the Atlantic to England with the first steamship, the Savarmah, 



1 8 19. Our fast "clipper" ships reached out for^ 

East, and brought from China and India their Ji^^ 
- - - - ... ^^ 



silk, etc., exchanging for them our goods. And ,m^ 



with a mighty ship trade, building and sail ^ 

31 



the trade of the Far 
products, teas, spices, 
our coasts were busy 
ing. New England, 




ON TUE MISSISSIPPI RIVER 



32 



CLIPPER SHIPS AND WHALERS, 1846 



once so poor, grew rich and prosperous. Emigrants from the Old World flocked 
to our shores — the land of promise — ^where everyone had an equal chance. 

Our whalers were busy, in 1846 New Bedford sent out 735 ships. They chased 
the whales from the icy seas of Greenland, to the South seas. In those days, in our 
lamps we burned whale oil — sperm oil. Later, from 1853, as petroleum was dis- 
covered, in our country, we changed to this, what we call kerosene, and now it has 
wholly taken the place of the whale oil. And the whale fleet has become a memory 
of the past. 

While we thus reached out on the seas at the same time we were ever advancing 
westward. Fremont had explored across the country to California, which had been 
settled by the Spaniards. The Americans feared that England would seize this 
country, and hastened to get in first. 

In Texas settlers steadily gaining a footing, kept crowding South and West into 
Mexican territory. This brought on hostilities, and in 1846 we went to war with 
Mexico. 

The war was short, and as we were the stronger we won. At the peace Cali- 
fornia was ceded to us. Gold was discovered in California in 1848, and at once a 
wild rush set in, much as in the old days of the Spaniards of De Soto's time. In 
1 849 as many as eighty thousand men reached that coimtry , coming from all lands. 
Half, perhaps, crossed the great plains, through the Indians. Others, by sea, in our 
fast "clipper" ships, went around Cape Horn, the way Magellan had discovered in 
1 5 19. Sailors on reaching San Francisco deserted their ships, soldiers deserted 
wholesale. Everybody was wild to "get rich quick." And in a few years from a 
small village San Francisco became a large city, and California, in time, a great State. 

Thus, by one means ^ ^and another, our great country has developed, 



and become settled. 





THE RUSH TO THE GOLD FIELDS OF CALIFORNIA — 1848-49 



GETTYSBURG. July 3. 1863 




S civilization advances wrong must give way and right must triumph. 
A great wrong had been implanted in our country, as far back as 
1 620, when the institution of slavery was introduced, by the bringing 
of African negroes to Virginia. 

Slavery had always been, and only as the world grew more and 
more civilized was it given up, till at last only in our own country did it still exist. 
In the Northern States, the climate, and habits of the people, gradually caused 
its decline, making it easier for them to see the great moral wrong. 

In the South, where cotton was the great crop, the planters grew into the habit 
of making slaves do all the work, and thus self-interest blinded them to the injustice 
of the system. Though some of their leaders, Washington, and especially Jefferson, 
early saw how evil it was and wished to end it. 

In the early days the old colonies had always been jealous of their local inde- 
pendence. We have seen how difficult it was to form a real Union. Now this feehng 
still continued, under the name of States' rights, and the two sections, North and 
South, instead of growing together, fell apart, weakening the spirit of Union. 

This slave system bred insolence in the South, while the energetic North rapidly 
increased in prosperity and population. As the people of the North now looked on 
slavery as a blot on the national honour — since we v alone kept it up — ^when 
new states were formed they tried to prohibit / . *^ its advance. While the 



^ 



33 




THE "monitor" and " MERRIMAC " BATTLE 



34 



GETTYSBURG, JULY 3. 1863 




people of the South jealously struggled to continue the institution. The result 
was an unavoidable clash, ending in a great civil war which lasted for four years, 
from 1 86 1 to 1865. 

On the sea took place a remarkable battle, of a new and unheard-of type. An 
iron covered ram, the Merrimac, successfully began to destroy the Government war- 
ships, then of wood, when suddenly the Monitor, a new invention, all of iron, with a 
revolving turret, appeared and beat her off, after a furious duel. This revolutionized 
the building of warships, and wooden construction gave place to iron and steel. 
The revolving tiuret still remains today. 

On land a long series of skirmishes and battles was bitterly fought, victory al- 
ternating from one side to the other. 

Till, in 1863, the turning point was reached at Gettysburg, where, after a three 
days' battle the army of the Southern States was completely defeated. Here, though 
beaten, the Southern troops earned a brilliant record for bravery in Pickett's famous 
charge. He led his gallant men across an exposed field under a galling fire of cannon 
and musketry, at a frightful cost, straight up and into the Union lines. But only to 
be driven back by equally brave men. They were all Americans. From this turning 
point the power of the National Government prevailed. And in time the war was won. 

Our great President, Abraham Lincoln, had determined to preserve the Union, 
at any cost, and now, after foiir years of struggle, he had succeeded. And since 
then we stand united as one Nation. 

This great war decided the question of slavery. The President, by proclamation, 
decreed that it should be forever ended. And the black man was freed. 

The whole country paid a terrible price for the wrong it had inherited from our 
forefathers. But as a nation we gained by the sacrifice. And now at last our land 
became the land of liberty for all. 



LINCOLN WklllNO lllE PKIXI.AMA- 
TION WHICH KKEKU THE SLAVES 



RAILROAD ACROSS THE PLAINS, 1869 




FTER the Civil War, when the great armies melted back into civiliza- 
tion, there was a steady advance of adventurous spirits, former 
soldiers, to the new West beyond the Mississippi. And settlements 
sprang up in that wide land acquired by Jefferson's Louisiana 
purchase, and explored, as we have seen, by Lewis and Clarke, 
and later Fremont. 

Travel was by "bull team," the prairie schooners — great covered wagons. In 
the trail of the settlers followed the "stage coach." And then the picturesque 
"Poney Express," dashing horsemen, by relays, carried the mail from St. Joseph, 
Missouri, to Sacramento, California, in from eight to ten days. The rider, with his 
mail bag, would dash across the plains, arriving at a settlement he would leap to the 
saddle of a horse already waiting, and off again, risking, and sometimes losing, his 
life by Indian attack. 

As early as 1835 Asa Whitney had recommended the building of a railway 
across the plains, as a short cut to the trade of the Far East. That East which had 
lured the first explorers who had reached our covintry. 

General Sherman, while in military command in San Francisco, in 1849, sent out 
two lieutenants to find a way for this, through the Sierra Mountains. Lieutenant 
Warner was killed by the Indians; for our fighting with the red man was not yet 
ended. 




STAGE COACH, PRAIRIE SCHOONER A.VD PONEY EXPRESS 



36 



RAILROADS ACROSS THE PLAINS, 1869 



Now, at the close of the war, the Government encouraged railroad building by 
liberal grants of money, for work achieved. 

From the extreme West, and from the East, the railroad construction began, in 
1865. 

The Union Pacific, beginning at Omaha, Nebraska, rapidly pushed west. At 
one time with an army of twenty -five thousand men, and six thousand teams, laying 
in a single day, at times, ten miles of tracks. 

This work was done only by overcoming great obstacles, among which were the 
frequent attacks of the Indians, who furiously resisted this new invasion of their 
hunting grounds. They would pounce down upon the advanced workmen, and kill 
and destroy; till at last it became necessary to protect the work with soldiers. 

But the white man was in earnest, and could not be stopped. At this time 
countless herds of buffalo roamed the plains. The famous Butfalo Bill, of pictur- 
esque memory, once a Poney Express rider, now served as scout, and meat supplier, 
killing buffalo for the great work army. This is how he got his name. 

From the west, with much the same difficulties, the Central Pacific pushed 
east. At last the two lines met at Promontory Point, Utah, May 9, 1869, and the 
last rails were laid. The great work was done. From the Atlantic to the Pacific 
our peoples were joined together by the railroad. The event was celebrated by 
ringing of bells throughout the land. The results to us of the opening of the railroad 
were almost as important as the discovery of Columbus, or the coming of the Pil- 
grims. It gave to us a new world, the great West, opening up a territory more 
than twice as big as , ■_^_^ that east of the Mississippi. 




BUFFALO Bll.l. 



!d4i 



««* 



THE GREAT WEST 




THER railroads soon followed this first enterprise. And along their 
way a rapid development set in. With our own people came count- 
less emigrants from other lands, to this fair land of hope and plenty. 
And within twenty -five years of the building of the railroad fifteen 
million people were living between the Missouri and the Pacific. 

Not without trouble, for Indian uprisings were frequent. For nearly three 
htmdred years the white man and the red man fought for the land, our country. 
The Indian at last, had to give way. Now, in this his last stronghold, where he 
roamed as a hunter, the buffalo is hardly more than a memory, and the Indian a 
curiosity. 

The West, as the early settlers knew it, is now gone, that great land, sometimes 
known as the American Desert, is filled with homes, and thriving towns. Where 
was once only the wild grass, are now wheat fields, orchards, meadows, and flower 
gardens. The dry plains, furrowed only by the tracks of thousands of wild buffalo, 
and Indian trails, are now crossed in every direction by steel rails. The smoke of 
busy industries now rise where not long ago rose the signal fires of the savage, which 
called the tribe to the attack on the settler's wagon train 

37 " 







'^J- 









■^^; 




,a>. 



HARVESTING THE WHEAT 



38 



THE GREAT WEST 




The fate of that long dream of the trade with the Far East is curious. It soon 
became of Uttle importance, for, with the rapid settUng of the country, ninety-five 
per cent., almost all of the revenue of the railroads comes from what is called 
local business, that is the trade with the West, carrying its products to the East- 
em States. And yet, the railroad originally was thought of for the traffic of the 
Orient. ^ 

Now, in our day, this great West practically feeds the nation. From here comes 
our wheat — our flour — and our meat. Here are raised great flocks of sheep, and 
herds of cattle. 

Here is the picturesque cowboy, who, with his fellows, drove great droves of 
beef, from Mexico, and the south of our western lands, for three thousand miles, in 
a six months' drive, through drought perhaps, and swimming such rivers as were 
met in the way, up to the north, to meet the railroads ; who then shipped by rail 
these cattle, to the great stockyards of Chicago, to be slaughtered, prepared, and 
shipped in every direction throughout the country, to feed the East, now the 
home of factories, where everything else needed for our comfort is made. 

And now, our whole country settled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, under a 
form of government which gives everyone a chance to do his part and reap his 
reward, grows steadily more prosperous and powerful, now not only a Union, but a 
Nation. 



"Jftr"'"*^ 



THE SHEEP 




RETURN OF OUR TROOPS FROM THE GREAT WAR. 1919 




E have had a good share in giving to the world useful inventions, 
as the steamboat, the sewing machine, the telegraph, and iron ship, 
already mentioned. We gave also the telephone, and the phono- 
graph, with many other valuable ideas. The principle of the machine 
gun, so much used in war; and the flying machine. And we 
mustn't forget the ubiquitous and useful Ford car. 

Not long ago we aided Cuba in gaining her freedom from a Spanish rule she 
disliked, though we had to send our ships and soldiers to do it. So ended Spanish 
dominion in America, after four hundred years. 

Our persevering Arctic explorer Peary at last carried our flag first to the North 
Pole. 

We built the Panama Canal, connecting the eastern waters with the Pacific. 
To our shores have come unnumbered hosts of emigrants from the old worlds. 
They have been absorbed and made into Americans. Their children, bom here, 
will be as good Americans as any. So that now our citizens are being made up from 
all peoples. Everything which goes into our great melting pot becomes American. 
History is always in the making. In the midst of peace, in 1 9 1 4, a great nation of 
Europe, Germany, reverted back to savagery, ^ and "ran amuck," murdering and 



destroying. And gradually nearly all the rest 
drawn in, to stop this "mad dog." Even we 
And willingly we went forth to help heroic France 
had not forgotten Lafayette, and that France 
Independence. 

39 



of the more civilized world was 
I last had to join in the fight, 
in her struggle for Hfe. We 
i which helped us to gain our 




PEARY AT THE NORTH POLE 



40 RETURN OF OUR TROOPS FROM THE GREAT WAR, 1919 



Splendidly our whole covintry arose to the effort. Red Cross societies were 
formed everywhere throughout the land, and women worked to make bandages for 
the wounded soldiers. Everybody helped, by raising more food, or loaning money 
to the government. The whole movement was altruistic, and noble — Service for 
Humanity. 

Our young men were enrolled as soldiers — and soon we landed over two million 
in France, who gallantly went into battle, fighting side by side with England, once 
our mother, then our enemy, and now our gallant Ally. And by our help the brutal 
enemy was beaten. And peace given to a suffering world. 

Many of our brave dead lie buried in France, but they did not die in vain. 
Among them, strange to say, were a number of Indians, fighting side by side with 
the white man. The last of the red men died like warriors, as of old. 

Oiu: troops are home with us again. The veterans of Gettysburg saluted their 
triumphant grandsons. And that nightmare of war is passed. Our faces again are 
turned towards the future. 

Thus ends the story of our country, so far, 1920. 

Now, all these people, through this long story, from away back in the beginning, 
were flesh and blood, just like us. They worked, slept, loved, and were sick — even 
suffered from toothache — just as we do. They were our forefathers, we are blood 
relations to them. If it hadn't been for them, and what they did, we should not 
be here today. 

Let us not forget, — to us the creed of Ancestor worship is fitting. Let us 

each and all, proud of our M# great past, strive to be equal to it; and 
take for our motto Nob -^^^^^M^ lesse oblioe. 

Long live the United ^^Mm^^M^ States of America! 




THE PANAMA CANAL 



COLOURED PLATES 



1000 



The Coming of the Norsemen 

Columbus — 1492 

De Soto at the Mississippi — 1542 

Pocahontas and Captain John Smith — 1607 

Samoset and the Pilgrims — 1621 

Roger Williams Bringing the Charter — 1644 

The Dutch in Manhattan (N. Y.)— 1664 . 

King Philip's War— 1675 

La Salle Descending the Mississippi — 1682 

The Boston Tea Party— 1773 . 

Lexington — 1 775 ..... 

Washington Crossing the Delaware — 1776 . 

Yorktown — Victory — 1781 

Lewis and Clark Expedition — 1805 . 

TheBattleof Lake Erie— Perry— 1813 . 

CHpper Ships and Whalers — 1846 

Gettysburg- — Pickett's Charge — 1863 

The First Railroad Across the Plains — ^1869 

The Great West ..... 

The Return of our Troops from the Great War — I 



919 



Facing 
page 



4 
5 
8 
9 
12 
13 
16 
17 
20 
21 
24 
25 
28 
29 
32 
33 
36 
37 
40 



4' 



DRAWINGS IN THE TEXT 

Page 
Vikings ........ 1 

American Natives — The Redskins .... 2 

Columbus sailing into the unknown • • . 3 

Ponce de Leon in search of the magic spring . 4 

Cod fishing ........ 5 

The Burial of De Soto 6 

Dominique de Gourgues attacking the Spaniards 7 

Champlain discovers Lake Champlain ... 8 
The Landing of the Pilgrims .... 9 

The emigration to Connecticut . . . .10 

Destruction of the Pequots . . . .11 

John Eliot preaching to the Indians . . .12 

William Penn treating with the Indians . . .13 

Henry Hudson sailing up the Hudson — 1609 . .14 

A Night attack by Indians . . . . .15 

In the track of the war .16 

"Coureurs de Bois" trading with the Indians . .17 

The Founding of New Orleans by French — 1714 18 

Patrick Henry, "Give me Liberty or give me Death" 19 
Benjamin Franklin .20 

Paul Revere spreading the alarm . . . .21 



42 



DRAWINGS IN THE TEXT 



43 





Page 


The Retreat of the British .... 


11 


The Battle of Bunker Hill .... 


23 


Winter at Valley Forge ..... 


24 


Paul Jones fighting the "Serapis" . 


25 


Washington as President .... 


26 


Daniel Boone ...... 


n 


Decatur burning the "Philadelphia" 


28 


Fulton's first steamboat on the Hudson — 1807 


29 


Battle of New Orleans— 1815 


30 


On the Mississippi River .... 


31 


The rush to the gold fields of California— 1848-49 


32 


The "Monitor" and "Merrimac" in Battle 


33 


Lincoln writing the proclamation which freed the slaves 34 


The Stage Coach, Prairie "Schooner," and Ponej 


7 


Express ........ 


35 


Buffalo Bill 


36 


Harvesting the Wheat ...... 


37 


The Sheep ........ 


38 


Peary at the North Pole 


39 


The Panama Canal ...... 


40 



NAMES OF OUR STATES 



A permanent record of our historical beginning remains with us in the names 
of the various States which make up our Union. 



Thus twentyfive bear truly American, that is 
Indian names 



Massachusetts 

Connecticut 

Ohio 

Kentucky 

Tennessee 

Alabama 

Mississippi 

Arkansas 

Missouri 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Wisconsin 

Minnesota 



Kansas 

Oklahoma 

Texas 

Nebraska 

North Dakota 

South Dakota 

Wyoming 

Utah 

Arizona 

Idaho 

New Mexico 

Michigan 



Six are Spanish names 
Florida Nevada 

California Montana 

Colorado Oregon 



Three are from the French 
Maine 
Vermont 
Louisiana 

Twelve bear English names 
Virginia 
West Virginia 
North Carolina 
South Carolina 
Georgia 
New York 
Maryland 
Delaware 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey 
Pennsylvania 

Rhode Island. Though it is from the Dutch 
Roode Eylandt 

Later, American names were given to two States 

Washington 

Indiana 



44 



CONTENTS 



The Coming of the Norsemen, a.d. iooo 

Columbus Discovers America, 1492 

De Soto at the Mississippi, 1541 . 

Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, 1607 . 

Samoset and the Pilgrims, 1621 

Roger Williams Bringing the Charter, 1644 

The Dutch in Manhattan, 1664 

King Philip's War, 1675 .... 

La Salle Decending the Mississippi, 1682 

The Boston Tea Party, 1773 

Lexington, April 19, 1775 .... 

Washington Crossing the Delaware, December 25, 1776 

YoRKTOWN Victory, 1781 

Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1805 

Battle of Lake Erie, 1813 .... 

Clipper Ships and Whalers, 1846 . 
Gettysburg, July 3, 1863 .... 

Railroad across the Plains, 1869 . 

The Great West ...... 

Return of our Troops from the Great War, 1919 



I 
3 
5 
7 
9 
II 

13 
15 
17 
19 
21 

23 
25 
27 
29 

31 
33 
35 
37 
39 



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